Bracket



W. L. PORTER BRACKET Filed Oct. 50, 1931 Batented Nov. 29, 1932 FETE-@E WILFRED L. PORTER, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS BRACKET Application led October 30, 1931. Serial No. 572,065.

The invention relates to abracket that may be attached to the shingles on a roof and used as a shinglers bracket, or be attached tothe clapboarded side of a building for supporting a shelf on which objects maybe placed, for

example plants.

rlhe attachment of the bracket to the shingle or clapboard is made by means of 'a clamp, and the special obj ect of the invention is to provide means whereby a very powerful clamping action may be obtained; also, to provide means whereby the pressure applied to the shingle or clapboard by the closing jaws of the clamp will be distributed evenly over a relatively large area and in a manner not to split the shingle or clapboard or mar its exterior surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket which can be easily and quickly applied; Vto provide a collapsible bracket and one that cannot be accidentally collapsed when in its extended form, and one that may be collapsed into a relatively small package.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawing, in which- Figure l shows a side elevation of the bracket attached'to a'shingled roof or clapboarded side of a building which is shown in cross section. l

Fig. 2 is a` sectional view of the bracket 'showing especially itsclamping jaws and the means operating to `close the jaws.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the clamping jaws and adjacent portion of the bracket. and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bracket when lin partially collapsed form.

Fig. 5 shows cross sections of the various hars which form the frame of the bracket,

Fig. 6 is a sectionot the frame showing a detail of construction to which reference will later Ybe made.

Referring to the drawing z- N j Y o generally triangular in form when extended 5 outer extremity of the bar 2 by a pin 6, while The'bracket comprises a collapsible frame the -bar 4 is pivotally connected at its outer end `to the outer extremity of the bar l by a pin 7 The bars 3 and 4 are pivotally connected at their linner ends by a pin 8 'and when the bars 3 and 4 are straightened ithey together form a brace between the outer extremities of the bars l and 2, thereby maintaining the frame extended to form ythe bracket.

All the pins connecting the respective bars Vpass through the flanged sides of the bars.

This is made possibleby reason of the fact that the several bars vary in width. The bar l is the `widestolf the bars; the bar 2 isof less width kenabling it to .lit between the flanged sides of the bar l; the bar 3 is of less width than the .bar 2 enabling it to litbetweenthe flanged sides of the lbar 2; likewise the bar 4 is of less width than the bar 3 enabling it to lit between ythe flanged sides of the bar 3. Having such-graduation 'in size enables all the bars .to be pivotally connected by pins passing through the flanged sides of the bars.

,Apart from facilitating their pivotal connection, the gradation inthe `relative widths of the bars permitsof the collapsing of the frame linto a small package. Vhen the frame is collapsed the joint between the bars 3 and 4 bends inwardly. The relative lengthof the bar-s 3 and 4 with relation to one another and .to the bars l and 2 is such that when the joint between the bars 3 and 4 bends inwardly on the collapsing of the frame the pivotal connection between these bars will extend toward the pivotal connection between the bars l and 2 whereupon the bars will fold intoone another, Vthe bar 2 folding into 'the bar 1; rthe bar 4 into the bar 3,` and both ba-rs 3 and 4 folding into the bars l and 2 which form a housing therefor.

joint between the bars 3 and 4. The clip 11 is a movable clip on the inner end of the bar 4 on the inner side of its web. The clip has a slot 12 in it and is fastened to the bar 4 by a pin 13 extending through the slot. Lateral displacement of the clip is prevented by its bearing against the flanges on the bar 4 between which the clip fits. wWhen the bars 3 and 4 are straightened on moving the clip 11 outwardly on the pin 13 it will overlap the inner endof the bar 3 with bearing against the inner side of its web, thus preventinginward bending of the joint between the bars 3 and 4.

When the frame bars of the bracket are in their extended form for application to a roof or side of a building the bar 2 forms a base bar'resting against the roof or building and the bar 1 forms an outwardly extending supporting bar.

Attachment of the bracket is secured as follows: Fixed to the end of the bar 2 so as to lie forward of the inner end of the bar 1 is a clamp member 15. Arranged in complef mentary relation to the clamp member 15 is a movable clamp member 16 having flanged sides 17 which overlap 'the joint between the bars 1 and 2 and is secured to the pin 5 pivotally connecting these bars. Relative movement'of the clamp member 16 is aorded by slots'18 cut in its flanged sides through which slots the pin 5 extends. Thus arranged the movable clamp member 16 lies forward of the inner end of the bar 1. The pivotal connection between the bars 1 and 2 is at a point removed from the inner end of the bar 1 so that a portion of the bar 1 will extend beyond its pivotal. connection, which allows the bar to operate as a lever for moving the clamp member 16 in the direction of the clampvmember 15 when the frame of the bracket is moved from its collapsed form into its extended form. In other words. the end 19 of the bar 1 will be brought to bear against the clamp member 16 exerting great force to move it in the direction of the other clamp member when the bar 1 is extended.

In the application of the bracket to the roof or side of a building the clamp member 15 on the bar` 2 is iirst tucked beneaththe end of a shingle or clapb'oard. Thereupon as the frame of the bracket is brought from a co1- lapsedinto its extended form the bar 1 of the frame operating as a lever as aforesaid will move the clamp member 16 hard against the outer side of the shingle or clapboard, thereby'securing the bracket lixedly thereto.

It will be=observed that both of the clamp members present relatively large bearing surfaces. and the movement of the movable clamp member 16 against the outer face of the shingle or clapboard is a simple movement of translation so that there is very little danger of splitting the shingle or clapboard even though the pressure exerted by the bar 1 for making the clamp connection is very great.k

In consequence a very powerful clamping action will be obtained for securing the bracket to the object.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States -1. A bracket comprising a frame havingl base bar, a supporting bar, means pivotally connecting the base bar and supporting bar at a point removed from the inner end of the supporting bar whereby the supporting bar may function as a lever when turned, braceforming barspivoted to one another and to said base bar and supporting bar respectiveber to the frame whereby it may be moved in e the direction of said fixed clamp member by said supporting bar on moving the frame from its collapsed form into itsextended form. y Y l 2. A bracket comprising a frame having a; base bar, a supporting bar, means'pivotally connectingthe base bar and supporting bar at a point removed from the inner end` of the supporting bar whereby the supporting bar may function as a lever rwhen turned,i

brace-forming bars pivotedto one anotherand V t-o said base barvand supporting barrespectively, a clamp member fixed to the'base bar,l

supporting bar on moving the frame fromV its collapsing form into its extended form.

3.V A bracket comprising a-frame having and a movable complementary clamp memdirection of said liXed clamp member by said a base bar, a supporting bar, means pivotallyr connecting the base bar and supporting bar, at a point removed fromthel inner end of the supporting bar whereby the sup.-

porting bar may function as a lever wheny turned, brace-forming bars pivoted to one an other and to said base bar and supporting bar respectively, a clamp member Vfixed to 4the base bar, and a movable complementary; j

clamp'member having flanged sides with slots' therein overlapping the joint between saidY base bar and said supporting bar and secured to the pivotal connection between said bars by said pivotal connection extending throughl said slots in the flanged sides of said me1 n'-f ber. t y

4. A bracket of the type specified comprising a collapsible frame including a baseY bar, asupporting bar and a brace bar, means piv` otally 4connecting the base bar #and the supporting bar at a point inwardly removed i from the inner end of the supportingbar whereby the supporting bar may function asl a lever when turned, a clamp member fixed to the base bar, amovable complementary clamp member, and means for securing the movable clamp member to the frame whereby it will be moved in the direction of the fixed clamp member by the turning of the sup- 5 porting bar when functioning as a lever on moving the frame from its collapsed form into its extended form.

5. A bracket of the type specified comprising a collapsible frame including a base bar, a supporting' bar and a brace bar, means pivotally connecting the base bar and the supporting bar at a point inwardly removed from the inner end of the supporting bar whereby the supporting bar may function as a lever when turned, a clamp member fixed to the base bar, a movable complementary clamp member having flanged sides with slots therein overlapping the pivotal joint between the base bar and the supporting bar and secured to the pivotal connection between said bars by said pivotal connection extending through the slots of the flanged sides of the movable flange member whereby the movable clamp member will be moved in the direction of the fixed clamp member by the turning of the supporting bar when functioning as a lever on moving the frame from its collapsed form into its extended form.

WILFRED L. PORTER. 

